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After the Storm

Page 73

But it is not so easily escaping from a woman like Mrs. Talbot,

when an acquaintanceship is once formed. In less than a week she

called again, and this time in company with another lady, a Mrs.

Lloyd, whom she introduced as a very dear friend. Mrs. Lloyd was a

tall, spare woman, with an intellectual face, bright, restless,

penetrating eyes, a clear musical voice, subdued, but winning

manners. She was a little past thirty, though sickness of body or

mind had stolen the bloom of early womanhood, and carried her

forward, apparently, to the verge of forty. Mrs. Emerson had never

before heard of this lady. But half an hour's conversation

completely captivated her. Mrs. Lloyd had traveled through Europe,

and spoke in a familiar way of the celebrated personages whom she

had met abroad,--talked of art, music and architecture, literature,

artists and literary men--displayed such high culture and easy

acquaintance with themes quite above the range usually met with

among ordinary people, that Mrs. Emerson felt really flattered with

the compliment of a visit.

"My good friend, Mrs. Talbot," said Mrs. Lloyd, during their

conversation, "has spoken of you so warmly that I could do no less

than make overtures for an acquaintance, which I trust may prove

agreeable. I anticipated the pleasure of seeing you at her house

last week, but was disappointed."

"The interview of to-day," remarked Mrs. Talbot, coming in adroitly,

"will only make pleasanter your meeting on to-morrow night."

"At your house?" said Mrs. Lloyd.

"Yes." And Mrs. Talbot threw a winning smile upon Mrs. Emerson. "You

will be there?"

"I think not," was replied.

"Oh, but you must come, my dear Mrs. Emerson! We cannot do without

you."

"I have promised my husband to go out with him."

"Your husband!" The voice of Mrs. Talbot betrayed too plainly her

contempt of husbands.

"Yes, my husband." Mrs. Emerson let her voice dwell with meaning on

the word.

The other ladies looked at each other for a moment or two with

meaning glances; then Mrs. Talbot remarked, in a quiet way, but with

a little pleasantry in her voice, as if she were not right clear in

regard to her young friend's state of feeling, "Oh dear! these husbands are dreadfully in the way, sometimes!

Haven't you found it so, Mrs. Lloyd?"

The eyes of Mrs. Emerson were turned instantly to the face of her

new acquaintance. She saw a slight change of expression in her pale

face that took something from its agreeable aspect. And yet Mrs.

Lloyd smiled as she answered, in a way meant to be pleasant, "They are very good in their place."

"The trouble," remarked Mrs. Talbot, in reply, "is to make them keep

their place."

"At our feet." Mrs. Emerson laughed as she said this.

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